Lameness affects 25% of dairy cows and causes chronic pain. It is one of the most prevalent and undertreated welfare problems in the dairy industry.
Dairy cow lameness is one of the most significant welfare problems in food animal agriculture, combining high prevalence, chronic duration, and systematic undertreatment. A lame cow experiencing foot pain with every step, for weeks or months, is in genuine suffering that affects every aspect of her life. Yet surveys show that many lame cows in intensive systems receive no treatment, and lameness is sometimes accepted as a normal feature of dairy production rather than a welfare failure. The causes are largely preventable: appropriate flooring (rubber matting reduces lameness dramatically compared to bare concrete), regular hoof care, dry cow management, and prompt treatment when lameness is detected. The economic cost of lameness is also substantial, yet prevention remains underprioritized. Better lameness monitoring technology, including gait scoring cameras, is improving detection rates.